Housing, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device including the housing

ABSTRACT

A mobile phone is provided, which includes a metal bezel having a left bezel portion and a right bezel portion and covering at least one part of an outer circumferential edge of a main body of the mobile phone, wherein upper and lower corner bezel portions of the left and right bezel portion are formed to be thicker outwardly in comparison with a middle portion of the left and right bezel portions.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation application of, and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/802,381,which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 17,2015, and is issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,699,279 on Jul. 4, 2017, whichclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent ApplicationSerial Nos. 10-2014-0104434 and 10-2014-0114567, which were filed in theKorean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 12, 2014 and Aug. 29, 2014,respectively, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electronic device, andmore particularly, to a housing, a method of manufacturing the housing,and an electronic device including the housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of electronic and telecommunication techniques,electronic devices perform various functions and may have a convergencefunction which performs one or more functions in combination.

Recently, a technological gap between electronic devices produced bydifferent manufacturers has been remarkably decreased. Thus, there is atendency to increase the rigidity of the electronic device whichgradually becomes slimmer and to emphasize a design aspect in order tosatisfy a consumer's need. As part of such a tendency, variousconstitutional elements (e.g., an exterior) of the electronic devicehave been implemented with a metal substance to satisfy the appeal for agood material quality and good outer appearance of the electronicdevice. Further, there is an effort to solve problems caused by the useof the metal substance, such as being vulnerable to rigidity, a groundproblem (e.g., an electric shock, etc.), a decrease in antenna radiationperformance, or the like.

In particular, when an edge portion of the electronic device is formedwith the metal material, the electronic device may include a segmentedportion, of which one part is segmented and filled with a non-metalmember. However, the housing formed with the metal material is stillvulnerable to rigidity. In particular, a metal bezel of the electronicdevice is frequently damaged or deformed, when the electronic device isdropped.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made to solve at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a housingof which rigidity can be reinforced only with a structure of a metalbezel itself, a method of manufacturing the housing, and an electronicdevice including the housing.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a housingimplemented to satisfy a consumer's need for a good outer appearanceeven if a housing formed with a metal material is applied, a method ofmanufacturing the housing, and an electronic device including thehousing.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a housing capableof protecting an electronic device from an external impact by smoothlyperforming a function of the electronic device while reinforcingrigidity, a method of manufacturing the housing, and an electronicdevice including the housing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a mobile phone isprovided including a metal bezel having a left bezel portion and a rightbezel portion and covering at least one part of an outer circumferentialedge of a main body of the mobile phone, wherein upper and lower cornerbezel portions of the left and right bezel portions are formed to bethicker outwardly in comparison with a middle portion of the left andright bezel portions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a mobile phone isprovided including a chamfer formed on a metal bezel covering at leastone part of a rear side and a lateral side of a main body of the mobilephone, wherein the chamfer is formed between a front side or the rearside of the main body and a lateral side of the main body, and at leastone non-metal segmented portion formed in one part of the metal bezel,wherein a paint is spread on a lateral wall of the metal bezel such thatthe lateral wall is covered and the at least one non-metal segmentedportion on is exposed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a housing isprovided including a metal bezel serving as at least one area of thehousing, and a non-metal member which is insert-injected to the metalbezel and serves as the remaining areas of the housing, wherein themetal bezel includes left, right, upper, and lower bezel portions, and arear bezel portion formed to be extending from at least one part of theleft, right, upper, and lower bezel portions to one part of a rear sideof the housing, wherein upper left and right corner bezel portions inwhich the left and right bezel portions are met in the upper bezelportion and lower left and right corner bezels in which the left andright bezel portions are met in the lower bezel portion are formed tohave a thickness thicker than a thickness of the left and right bezelportions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainembodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment including an electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an electronic device to which a metalbezel is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating important parts of an electronicdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which a non-metal member isinsert-injected to a metal bezel according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates parts in a state in which a non-metal member isinsert-injected to a metal bezel according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view illustrating the parts of a portion A ofFIG. 3B according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the parts of the portionA of FIG. 3B according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are cross-sectional views illustrating importantparts viewed respectively from the reference lines B, C, and D of FIG.3B according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates a state in which a non-metal member isinsert-injected to a metal bezel according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view illustrating parts of a state in which anouter surface is painted after a non-metal member is insert-injected toa metal bezel according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view illustrating important parts of astate in which a surface treatment layer for preventing corrosion isformed in a chamfer area according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views viewed from the referenceline F of FIG. 6A according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for manufacturing a metal bezel (e.g., a housing)of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C illustrate an operation based on a manufacturingprocess of a metal bezel of FIG. 8 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10A to FIG. 10E illustrate a flattening process and a paintingprocess after a non-metal member is insert-injected to a metal bezelwith respect to a portion G of FIG. 9 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B illustrate a chamfer located near an ear-jack holeof an electronic device and a processing path according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A illustrates a structure in which a secondary housing formedwith a non-metal material is assembled in a metal bezel according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12B illustrates a structure of a secondary housing (e.g., abracket) and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) applied to a metal bezel ofFIG. 12A according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which aninterface connector port is applied to a metal bezel according toanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 14, discussed below, and various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present invention in this specificationare by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any wayto limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present invention may beimplemented in any suitably arranged electronic devices. Hereinafter,various embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings. While the various embodiments ofthe present invention are susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, embodiments thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that it is not intended to limit the presentinvention to the particular form or forms disclosed, but, on thecontrary, the various embodiments of the present invention are intendedto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Like reference numerals denote like constitutional elementsthroughout the drawings.

The expressions “include” or “may include” used in the variousembodiments of the present invention are intended to indicate a presenceof a corresponding function, operation, or constitutional elementdisclosed herein, and are not intended to limit a presence of one ormore functions, operations, or constitutional elements. In addition, inthe various embodiments of the present invention, the terms “include” or“have” are intended to indicate that characteristics, numbers, steps,operations, constitutional elements, and elements disclosed in thespecification or combinations thereof exist. As such, the terms“include” or “have” should be understood that there are additionalpossibilities of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps,operations, constitutional elements, elements or combinations thereof.

In various embodiments of the present invention, an expression “or”includes any and all combinations of words enumerated together. Forexample, “A or B” may include A or B, or may include both of A and B.

Although expressions used in various embodiments of the presentinvention such as “1^(st)”, “2^(nd)”, “first”, “second” may be used toexpress various constitutional elements of the various embodiments, theyare not intended to limit the corresponding constitutional elements. Forexample, the above expressions are not intended to limit an order or animportance of the corresponding constitutional elements. The aboveexpressions may be used to distinguish one constitutional element fromanother constitutional element. For example, a 1^(st) user device andthe 2^(nd) user device are both user devices, and indicate differentuser devices. For example, a 1^(st) constitutional element may bereferred to as a 2^(nd) constitutional element, and similarly, the2^(nd) constitutional element may be referred to as the 1^(st)constitutional element without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

When a constitutional element is mentioned as being “connected” to or“accessing” another constitutional element, this may mean that it isdirectly connected to or accessing another constitutional element, butit is to be understood that there are no intervening constitutionalelements present. On the other hand, when a constitutional element ismentioned as being “directly connected” to or “directly accessing”another constitutional element, it is to be understood that there are nointervening constitutional elements present.

By the term “substantially” it is typically meant that the recitedcharacteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, butthat deviations or variations, including but not being limited to, forexample, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitationsand other factors known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, mayoccur in amounts that do not preclude the effect that the characteristicwas intended to provide.

The term “module” used in various embodiments of the present inventionmay imply a unit including, for example, one of hardware, software, andfirmware or a combination of two or more of them. The “module” may beinterchangeably used with a term such as a unit, a logic, a logicalblock, a component, a circuit, and the like. The “module” may be aminimum unit of an integrally constituted component or may be a partthereof. The “module” may be a minimum unit for performing one or morefunctions or can be a part thereof. The “module” may be mechanically orelectrically implemented. For example, the “module” of the presentinvention may include at least one of an Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) chip, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and aprogrammable-logic device, which are known or will be developed andwhich perform certain operations.

The terminologies used in various embodiments of the present inventionare for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and arenot intended to be limiting of the various embodiments of the presentinvention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unlessthere is a contextually distinctive difference therebetween.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by thoseordinarily skilled in the art to which the present invention belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thevarious embodiments of the present invention, and are not to beinterpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly sodefined herein.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentinvention may be a device including an antenna capable of performing acommunication function in at least one frequency band. For example, theelectronic device may be a smart phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC),a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptopPC, a netbook computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a PortableMultimedia Player (PMP), a MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player, a mobilemedical device, a camera, and a wearable device (e.g., aHead-Mounted-Device (HMD) such as electronic glasses, electronicclothes, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronicappcessory, an electronic tattoo, or a smart watch).

According to various embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device may be a smart home appliance having an antenna. Forexample, the smart home appliance may include at least one of aTeleVision (TV), a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audio, arefrigerator, an air conditioner, a cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven,a washing machine, an air purifier, a set-top box, a TV box (e.g.,Samsung HomeSync™ Apple TV™, or Google TV™), a game console, anelectronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, and an electronicpicture frame.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device including the antenna may be one of various medicaldevices (e.g., Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic ResonanceImaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), imaging equipment, ultrasonicinstrument, etc.), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System(GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder(FDR), a car infotainment device, an electronic equipment for ship(e.g., a vessel navigation device, a gyro compass, etc.), avionics, asecurity device, a car head unit, an industrial or domestic robot, anAutomatic Teller Machine (ATM) of financial institutions, and Point OfSales (POS) of shops.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device may be part of at least one of an item of furniture ora building/structure including an antenna. The electronic device may bean electronic board, an electronic signature input device, a projector,or any of various measurement machines (e.g., water supply, electricity,gas, propagation measurement machine, etc.). The electronic device maybe one or more combinations of the aforementioned various devices. Inaddition, the electronic device may be a flexible device. Moreover, theelectronic device is not limited to the aforementioned devices.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The term “user” used in the various embodimentsmay refer to a person who uses the electronic device or a device whichuses the electronic device (e.g., an Artificial Intelligence (AI)electronic device).

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment 100 including an electronicdevice 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theelectronic device 101 includes a bus 110, a processor 120, a memory 130,an input/output interface 140, a display 150, and a communicationinterface 160

The bus 110 is a circuit for connecting the aforementionedconstitutional elements to each other and for delivering communication(e.g., a control message) between the aforementioned constitutionalelements.

The processor 120 receives an instruction from the aforementioneddifferent constitutional elements (e.g., the memory 130, theinput/output interface 140, the display 150, the communication interface160, etc.), for example, via the bus 110, and thus interprets thereceived instruction and executes arithmetic or data processingaccording to the interpreted instruction.

The memory 130 stores an instruction or data received from the processor120 or different constitutional elements (e.g., the input/outputinterface 140, the display 150, the communication interface 160, etc.)or generated by the processor 120 or the different constitutionalelements. The memory 130 may include programming modules such as akernel 131, a middleware 132, an Application Programming Interface (API)133, an application 134, and the like. Each of the aforementionedprogramming modules may consist of software, firmware, or hardwareentities or may consist of at least two or more combinations thereof.

The kernel 131 controls or manages the remaining other programmingmodules, for example, system resources (e.g., the bus 110, the processor120, the memory 130, etc.) used to execute an operation or functionimplemented in the middleware 132, the API 133, or the application 134.In addition, the kernel 131 provides a controllable or manageableinterface by accessing individual constitutional elements of theelectronic device 101 in the middleware 132, the API 133, or theapplication 134.

The middleware 132 performs a mediation role so that the API 133 or theapplication 134 communicates with the kernel 131 to exchange data. Inaddition, regarding task requests received from the application 134, forexample, the middleware 132 performs a control (e.g., scheduling or loadbalancing) for the task requests by using a method of assigning apriority capable of using a system resource (e.g., the bus 110, theprocessor 120, the memory 130, etc.) of the electronic device 101 to atleast one of the applications 134.

The API 133 may include at least one interface or function (e.g.,instruction) for file control, window control, video processing,character control, and the like, as an interface capable of controllinga function provided by the application 134 in the kernel 131 or themiddleware 132.

The application 134 may include an Short Message Service(SMS)/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) application, an e-mailapplication, a calendar application, an alarm application, a health careapplication (e.g., an application for measuring a physical activitylevel, blood sugar level, etc.) or an environment informationapplication (e.g., atmospheric pressure, humidity, or temperatureinformation). Alternatively, the application 134 may be an applicationrelated to an information exchange between the electronic device 101 andan external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device 104 or server106). The application related to the information exchange may include,for example, a notification relay application for relaying specificinformation to the external electronic device or a device managementapplication for managing the external electronic device.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof relaying notification information generated in another application(e.g., an SMS/MMS application, an e-mail application, a health careapplication, an environment information application, etc.) of theelectronic device 101 to the external electronic device. Alternatively,the notification relay application may receive notification information,for example, from the external electronic device and provide it to theuser. The device management application may manage, for example, afunction for at least one part of the external electronic device whichcommunicates with the electronic device 101.

Examples of the function include turning on/turning off the externalelectronic device itself (or some components thereof) or adjusting of adisplay illumination (or a resolution), and managing (e.g., installing,deleting, or updating) an application which operates in the externalelectronic device or a service (e.g., a call service or a messageservice) provided by the external electronic device.

The application 134 may include an application specified according toattribute information (e.g., an electronic device type) of the externalelectronic device. For example, if the external electronic device is anMP3 player, the application 134 may include an application related to amusic play. Similarly, if the external electronic device is a mobilemedical device, the application 134 may include an application relatedto a health care. The application 134 may include at least one of aspecified application in the electronic device 101 or an applicationreceived from the external electronic device.

The input/output interface 140 relays an instruction or data input froma user by using a sensor (e.g., an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor)or an input device (e.g., a keyboard or a touch screen) to the processor120, the memory 130, or the communication interface 160, for example,via the bus 110. For example, the input/output interface 140 may providedata regarding a user's touch input via the touch screen to theprocessor 120. In addition, the input/output interface 140 outputs aninstruction or data received from the processor 120, the memory 130, orthe communication interface 160 to an output device (e.g., a speaker ora display), for example, via the bus 110. For example, the input/outputinterface 140 may output audio data provided by using the processor 120to the user via the speaker.

The display 150 displays a variety of information (e.g., multimedia dataor text data) to the user.

The communication interface 160 connects a communication between theelectronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 or theserver 106. The communication interface 160 can include an antenna. Forexample, the communication interface 160 may communicate with theexternal device by being connected with a network 162 through wirelesscommunication or wired communication. The wireless communication mayinclude, for example, at least one of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi),Bluetooth (BT), Near Field Communication (NFC), Global PositioningSystem (GPS), and cellular communication (e.g., Long Term Evolution(LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM), etc.). The wired communication may include, forexample, at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB), High DefinitionMultimedia Interface (HDMI), Recommended Standard (RS)-232, and PlainOld Telephone Service (POTS).

The network 162 may be a telecommunications network. Thetelecommunications network may include at least one of a computernetwork, an internet, an internet of things, and a telephone network. Aprotocol (e.g., a transport layer protocol, a data link layer protocol,or a physical layer protocol) for communications between the electronicdevice 101 and an external device may be supported in at least one ofthe application 134, the application programming interface 133, themiddleware 132, the kernel 131, and the communication interface 160.

Although a metal bezel served as a housing of an electronic device isdescribed herein in various embodiments of the present invention, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the presentinvention is also applicable to a housing having a differentconstruction other than that of the electronic device, and may beapplied as an internal constitutional element rather than an exterior.

Although a metal bezel extending up to at least one part of a rear sidealong an edge is described in various embodiments of the presentinvention, a metal bezel which is selectively applicable to variousareas of an electronic device, for example, which is applied to only onepart of an edge of the electronic device or is not applied to the rearside, also complies with technical features of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an electronic device 200 to which ametal bezel 210 is applied according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2B is a plan view of part of the electronic device 200illustrating important parts of the electronic device 200 according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a display 201 is installed in a frontside 207 of the electronic device 200. A speaker 202 for receiving andoutputting a voice of a counterpart user may be installed in an upperside of the display 201. A microphone 203 for transmitting a voice of auser of the electronic device to the counterpart user may be installedin a lower side of the display 201.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, components forperforming various functions of the electronic device 200 may be placednear an area in which the speaker 202 is installed. The components mayinclude at least one sensor module 204. The sensor module 204 mayinclude, for example, an illumination sensor (e.g., an optical sensor),a proximity sensor (e.g., an optical sensor), an infrared sensor, and anultrasonic sensor. According to an embodiment of the present invention,the components may include at least one of a camera 205 and a LightEmitting Diode (LED) indicator 206 to allow the user to recognize stateinformation of the electronic device 200.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronicdevice 200 may include the metal bezel 210 as a housing. According to anembodiment of the present invention, the metal bezel 210 may be disposedalong an edge of the electronic device 200, and may extend to at leastone area of a rear side of the electronic device 200 extending from theedge. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the metalbezel 210 defines a thickness of the electronic device along the edge ofthe electronic device 200, and may be formed in a closed-loop shape.However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and thus themetal bezel 210 may also be formed to serve as at least one part of thethickness of the electronic device 200. According to an embodiment ofthe present invention, the metal bezel 210 may be disposed only in atleast one area of the edge of the electronic device 200. According to anembodiment of the present invention, when the metal bezel 210 serves asone part of the housing of the electronic device 200, the remainingparts of the housing may be formed of a non-metal member. In this case,the metal bezel 210 may be formed in such a manner that the non-metalmember is assembled or insert-injected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the metal bezel 210has a closed-loop shape along the edge, and may be disposed to serve asthe entire thickness of the electronic device 200. According to anembodiment of the present invention, when the electronic device 200 isviewed from the front, the metal bezel 210 may be formed of a rightbezel portion 211, a left bezel portion 212, an upper bezel portion 213,and a lower bezel portion 214. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the metal bezel 210 may include an upper-right corner bezelportion 215 in which the right bezel portion 211 and the upper bezelportion 213 meet and an upper-left corner bezel portion 216 in which theleft bezel portion 212 and the upper bezel portion 213 meet. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the metal bezel 210 mayinclude a lower-right corner bezel portion 218 in which the right bezelportion 211 and the lower bezel portion 214 meet and a lower-left cornerbezel portion 217 in which the left bezel portion 212 and the lowerbezel portion 214 meet. The metal bezel 210 may also include one or moresegmented portions 219, which may be non-metal and formed in a specificinterval between at least two parts of the metal bezel.

FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which a non-metal member 220 isinsert-injected to a metal bezel 210 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the non-metal member 220 may be inserted-injectedto the metal bezel 210, and thus, the non-metal member 220 and the metalbezel 210 may be complete as one housing. According to an embodiment ofthe present invention, the metal bezel 210 may be disposed at an edgeand at least one area of a rear side of the electronic device. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the metal bezel 210 may alsoextend up to at least one area of an inner surface of the electronicdevice 200. According to an embodiment of the present invention, thenon-metal member 220 may be a member formed from a synthetic resinmaterial. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, andthus various non-conductive dielectric materials may be applied.

According to an embodiment, to reinforce rigidity of the metal bezel210, the upper-left corner bezel portion 215 and the upper-right cornerbezel portion 216 may be formed to have a thickness (i.e., the thicknessof the metal bezel 210) thicker than that of right bezel portion 211 andleft bezel portion 212.

FIG. 3B illustrates important parts in a state in which a non-metalmember 220 is insert-injected to a metal bezel 210 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the metal bezel 210 includes a segmented portion219 in which at least one area of an upper bezel portion 213 issegmented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, thesegmented portion 219 may be formed together when the non-metal member220 is insert-injected to the metal bezel 210. When the electronicdevice 200 is used as a communication device, by the use of thesegmented portion 219, the upper bezel portion 213 may be used as anantenna radiator together with an antenna radiator disposed inside ofthe electronic device.

Conventionally, the segmented portion is included in one area (i.e., aportion E of FIG. 3B) of each of right and left bezel portions 211 and212 of FIG. 3B. However, in this manner, corner bezel portions 215 and216 are also used as an antenna radiator, and cannot be formed with anincreased thickness in order to ensure antenna performance.

However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, instead ofusing the segmented portion indicated by the portion E of FIG. 3B, atleast one segmented portion 219 is disposed in a specific area of theupper bezel portion 213, and the corner bezel portions 215 and 216 areformed to have a thickness thicker than that of the right and left bezelportions 211 and 212 to reinforce rigidity, thereby being able toprevent deformation and damage caused by external impacts.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view illustrating important parts of a portion Aof FIG. 3B according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG.4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating important parts of the portionA of FIG. 3B according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, in order to secure rigidity of anelectronic device, in particular, rigidity of a vulnerable corner bezelportion, a corner bezel portion of a metal bezel 210 is formed to berelatively thick, and also a non-metal member 220 is insert-injectedthereto. Therefore, a joining force with respect to the non-metal member220 can be reinforced.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in each cornerbezel portion of the metal bezel 210, a reinforcing protrusion 2101 isformed to be inserted by a specific length in an inward direction withrespect to the metal bezel. Thereafter, the non-metal member 220 may beinsert-injected to cover the reinforcing protrusion 2101. Therefore, afirst supporting portion 2201 of the non-metal member 220 may beinsert-injected to a first part of the reinforcing protrusion 2101, anda second supporting portion 2202 of the non-metal member 220 may beinsert-injected to a second part of the reinforcing protrusion 2101. Inthis case, a contact area between the metal bezel 210 and the non-metalmember 220 is extended, and thus rigidity of each corner bezel portionof the metal bezel 210 can be secured.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are cross-sectional views illustrating importantparts viewed respectively from the reference lines B, C, and D of FIG.3B according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thickness isconstant from each corner bezel portion to upper and lower bezelportions in terms of an outer appearance. However, if the upper andlower bezel portions are used as an antenna radiator, antenna radiationperformance may deteriorate due to an increase in the thickness.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the cornel bezel portion 216 may be formed suchthat a cross-section thereof is also thick, whereas as shown in FIG. 5Band FIG. 5C, the upper bezel portion 213 may be formed to have slits2102 and 2103 inwardly in a lengthwise direction of the upper bezelportion 213. The slits 2102 and 2103 prevent performance deteriorationof an antenna radiator which is covered by the metal bezel 210, and ifthe upper bezel portion 213 is used as an antenna radiator, improvedantenna radiation performance can be achieved. According to anembodiment of the present invention, the non-metal member 220 fills theaforementioned slits 2102 and 2103 of the upper bezel portion 213 afterinsert-injection, and since the non-metal member 220 is a dielectricmaterial, it does not have an effect on antenna radiation performanceeven if a thickness thereof is increased.

FIG. 6A illustrates a state in which a non-metal member 620 isinsert-injected to a metal bezel 610 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the metal bezel 610 may include an edge serving asa lateral side of an electronic device which defines the thickness ofthe electronic device and one area of a rear side of the electronicdevice, and the non-metal member 620 may be insert-injected in theremaining areas. However, the present invention is not limited thereto,and only one area of the edge of the electronic device may be formed asthe metal bezel 610. According to an embodiment of the electronicdevice, the edge may include left, right, upper, and lower bezelportions 611, 612, 613, and 614. After the non-metal member 620 isinsert-injected, painting may be performed on the entirety of the metalbezel 610 by including a boundary surface thereof. A boundary portionbetween the metal bezel 610 and the non-metal member 620 is notrecognizable by a naked eye due to the painting process, therebyproviding a good outer appearance.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view illustrating important parts of a state inwhich an outer surface is painted after a non-metal member 620 isinserted-injected to a metal bezel 610 according to another embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6B, a part of the rear portion 615, on which paintinghas been performed after the non-metal member 620 is insert-injected tothe metal bezel 610, (in the dotted circle) is shown in an enlargedview. A chamfer 616 may be finally formed along a lengthwise directionin a boundary portion between the rear portion 615 of the metal bezel610 and each of lateral bezel portions 611, 612, 613, and 614. Thechamfer 616 may be formed by a diamond cutting process.

According to the present invention, after the painting, as a finalprocess, the chamfer 616 may be formed in a lengthwise direction in aboundary portion between the upper bezel portion 613 and the rear bezelportion 615 of the metal bezel 610. The non-metal member 620 may beexposed in the chamfer 616 because of a chamfering process after thepainting process. That is, a segmented portion formed in a boundaryportion in the metal bezel 610 by insert-molding of the non-metal member620 is not exposed to the outside except for the chamfer 616 having arelatively small area (i.e., the non-metal member 620) due to thepainting, and thus the electronic device may have a good outerappearance.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view illustrating important parts of astate in which a surface treatment layer for preventing corrosion isformed in a chamfer area according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6C, a metal portion may be exposed to the outside dueto a chamfer 616 formed in a corner of a metal bezel 610, and theexposed metal portion may be vulnerable to corrosion. Therefore, asurface treatment layer 619 for preventing the corrosion may be furtherformed on the surface of a painting area including the chamfer 616.According to another embodiment of the present invention, the surfacetreatment layer 619 may be formed only in the area of chamfer 616.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the surfacetreatment layer 619 may include a primer layer 619-1 laminated with aspecific thickness on the surface of the painting area and an AntiFingerprint (AF) coating layer 619-2 laminated on the surface of theprimer layer 619-1.

According to the present invention, the primer layer 619-1 is providedto smoothly laminate the AF coating layer 619-2, and may be formed byperforming a vacuum deposition or sputtering process on a SiO₂ type orAI₂O₃ type material. According to another embodiment of the presentinvention, the primer layer 619-1 may be formed not only with a singlematerial but also by depositing a material in which SiO₂ and AI₂O₃ aremixed in a specific ratio.

According to the present invention, the primer layer 619-1 may be formedas a multi-layered layer in such a manner that the AI₂O₃ material isformed with a specific thickness and the SiO₂ material is additionallyformed with a specific thickness. The primer layer 619-1 may be formedwith a thickness of 20 to 2000 nanometers.

The AF coating layer 619-2 may be formed by depositing a material havingexcellent anti-friction, anti-fouling, and chemical resistanceproperties. According to another embodiment of the present invention, aceramic coating layer may be applied instead of an AF coating layer.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views viewed from the referenceline F of FIG. 6A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a metal bezel 610 may be formed as a housing. Themetal bezel 610 may support an internal bracket 630. A window 640 may beinstalled in an upper side of the internal bracket 630. Although notshown, a display may be disposed between the window 640 and the bracket630.

According to the present invention, the metal bezel 610 may have achamfer forming area 616 formed in a boundary portion between a rearportion 615 and a right bezel portion 611. According to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the chamfer forming area 616 may beflat. Also, between the right bezel portion 611 and the window 640, achamfer forming area 618 may also be formed in a boundary portion withrespect to an upper front area 617 of the electronic device. Althoughnot shown, the chamfer forming area 618 may be formed in each of a lowerend portion and upper end portion of the right bezel portion 611, thatis, in a boundary portion between a front side and rear side of theelectronic device.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the chamfer forming areas 616 and 618 may beformed in an outwardly curved shape. Although not shown, according toanother embodiment of the present invention, the chamfer forming areas616 and 618 may be formed in an inwardly curved shape. According toanother embodiment of the present invention, at least two chamfers maybe formed consecutively to be neighboring to each other in a boundaryportion between the right bezel portion 611 and the rear bezel portion615 of the electronic device or in a boundary portion between the rightbezel portion 611 and the upper front area 617.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for manufacturing a metal bezel (e.g., a housing)of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C illustrate an operation based on themanufacturing process of the metal bezel of FIG. 8 according to thepresent invention.

The process of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the drawingsof FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C. FIG. 9A illustrates a front view and a rear viewof the metal bezel 610 having a non-metal member insert-injected. FIG.9B illustrates a flattening process. FIG. 9C illustrates a view of theelectronic device after a printing process.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step 801, a metal bezel 610 without a non-metalmember is manufactured. As shown in FIG. 9A, the metal bezel 610 may beformed with various metal materials such as aluminum, magnesium, SteelUse Stainless (SUS), etc., and casting, pressing, or the like may beused to complete a desired molding product. As shown in FIG. 9A, themetal area of the metal bezel 610 may include a right bezel portion 611,left bezel portion 612, upper bezel portion 613, and lower bezel portion614 serving as an edge of the electronic device and defining itsthickness, and may include a rear bezel portion 615 connected to atleast one area of each of the bezel portions 611, 612, 613, and 614. Therear bezel portion 615 may be disposed in at least one area of a rearside of the electronic device.

In step 803, a non-metal material is insert-injected to the formed metalbezel to fill a portion in which a metal area is not provided, and asshown in FIG. 9A.

In step 805, a flattening process is performed on a boundary portion ofthe metal bezel 610 and the non-metal bezel 620. Referring to FIG. 9B,in the flattening process, buffing may be performed not only on aboundary portion of the metal bezel 610 and the non-metal bezel 620, butalso on all of a rear bezel portion 615 and each of bezel portions 611,612, 613, and 614. According to another embodiment of the presentinvention, the buffing may be performed more than twice.

In step 807, painting is performed on the entire outer surface of themetal bezel 610, of which flattening is complete. According to such apainting process, as shown in FIG. 9C, a boundary area may be hidden byapplying heterogeneous materials with respect to the metal bezel 610.According to the present invention, by the use of the painting process,the housing of the electronic device may appear to be formed with asingle material and thus provides a good outer appearance. According tothe present invention, the painting process may include a soft-feelprocess to provide a user with an excellent tactility and texturedepending on a type of paint to be applied (e.g., a natural substancepaint).

In step 809, a chamfer 616 may be formed in a lengthwise direction in aboundary portion between each of the bezel portions 611, 612, 613, and614 and the rear bezel portion 615. According to the present invention,the chamfer 616 may provide a good outer appearance of the electronicdevice by partially exposing the metal material of the metal bezel 610,and may provide an excellent grip feel to a user in comparison with anangular corner.

FIG. 10A to FIG. 10E illustrate a flattening process and a paintingprocess after a non-metal member 620 is insert-injected to a metal bezel610 with respect to the reference line G of FIG. 9A according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10A, if the non-metal member 620 is insert-injected tothe metal bezel 610, a step difference portion 6201 or a gap 6202 may beproduced in a boundary portion between heterogeneous materials. An outersurface may partially protrude due to the step difference portion 6201even if the painting process is performed, and one portion of the outersurface is dented due to the gap 6202.

The step difference portion 6201 may be removed through buffing as shownin FIG. 10B, and a primer 650 with a specific thickness may be laminatedas shown in FIG. 10C. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the primer 650 may use putty, and may fill the gap 6202 ofthe boundary portion between the aforementioned heterogeneous materials.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10D, after the primer 650 is hardened,buffing is performed again so that an area of a metal bezel and an areaof a non-metal member form a flat-plane. Thereafter, as shown in FIG.10E, a painting layer 660 may be formed by spreading a paint on thesurface of the primer 650 after buffing Thereafter, chamfering may beperformed.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B illustrate a chamfer 616 located near an ear-jackhole 671 of an electronic device and a processing path of chamferingaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11A, the electronic device includes an ear-jackassembly for accommodating an ear plug of a headset. In this case, theear-jack hole 671 for accommodating the ear plug may be generallydisposed on a lateral bezel portion of the electronic device. Inaddition, the ear-jack hole 671 may accommodate the ear-jack assembly,and a mold portion 670 may be formed together so that the ear-jack hole671 can be electrically isolated from a metal bezel formed with a metalmaterial. According to the present invention, the ear-jack hole 671 andthe mold portion 670 may be included in a processing path of theaforementioned chamfer 616. Since the mold portion 670 is processedtogether by the forming of the chamfer 616, a thickness of an ear-jackhole portion becomes thicker under the conventional chamfer shown inFIG. 11B, which may result in being partially vulnerable to rigidity.

According to the present invention, when moving a processing tool (e.g.,a diamond cutting tool) for processing the chamfer 616, as shown in FIG.11A, a thickness of the chamfer 616 towards an ear-jack hole portion maybe reinforced by the use of an improved chamfer of FIG. 11B by changingthe processing direction between a horizontal direction and a verticaldirection using the processing tool. According to the present invention,when processing the chamfer of the ear-jack hole portion, a processingpath of the processing tool may be moved in a direction away from theear-jack hole.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, such a chamferingmethod may be used not only for a case of using the ear-jack hole butalso for a case where the processing tool passes various electroniccomponent accommodating spaces (e.g., an interface connector port, amicrophone hole, a speaker hole, etc.) which require an openingexposable to an outer surface of the electronic device.

FIG. 12A illustrates a structure in which a secondary housing 1230formed with a non-metal material is assembled in a metal bezel 1210according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12A, a secondary housing 1230 formed with a non-metalmember may be insert-injected to the metal bezel 1210, and thus themetal bezel 1210 with the secondary housing 1230 may be complete as ahousing of the electronic device. According to the present invention,the metal bezel 1210 may be disposed in an edge and at least one area ofa rear side of the electronic device. The metal bezel 1210 may alsoextend to at least one area of an inner surface of the electronicdevice. An edge of the metal bezel 1210 may include right, left, upper,and lower bezel portions 1211, 1212, 1213, and 1214.

According to the present invention, the secondary housing 1230 may beformed with a non-metal material, or the secondary housing 1230 may beformed in such a manner that a metal material is assembled in thenon-metal material. Also, the secondary housing 1230 may be formed insuch a manner that the non-metal material is insert-injected to themetal material.

According to the present invention, the secondary housing 1230 may beformed in such a manner that it is not physically in contact with themetal bezel 1210 even if the metal material is included. This is forpreventing an electric shock accident which may occur when current isapplied to the metal bezel 1210 when electronic components (e.g., aPrinted Circuit Board (PCB)) included in the secondary housing 1230 areused.

FIG. 12B illustrates a structure of a secondary housing (e.g., abracket) 1230 and PCB 1240 applied to the metal bezel 1210 of FIG. 12Aaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12B, the secondary housing (e.g., the bracket) 1230including the PCB 1240 may be further disposed inside a metal bezel1210. According to another embodiment of the present invention, theentirety of the secondary housing 1230 may be formed of a nonconductivemember (e.g., synthetic resins), or may be assembled or insert-injectedtogether with a metal member (e.g., a reinforcement plate 1231 forsupporting a battery pack, an interface connector port 1241, etc.). Inthis case, the metal member 1231 may be disposed not to be in contactwith the metal bezel 1210, or may be disposed to be electricallyisolated from the metal bezel 1210 extending to a lateral side of theelectronic device. The PCB 1240 may also be disposed to be electricallyisolated from the metal bezel 1210, thereby being able to prevent theelectric shock accident.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which aninterface connector port 1241 is applied to a metal bezel 1210 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, a non-metal member 1220 may be injected through anopening 1221 for accommodating the interface connector port 1241 inorder to electrically isolate the interface connection port 1241 andmetal bezel 1210 formed with a metal material. Therefore, by the use ofthe non-metal member 1220 disposed around the interface connector port1241, current which flows through the interface connector port 1241 maybe prevented from causing an electric shock accident which may occurwhen current is applied to the metal bezel 1210.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to provide a housing which can be configured to smoothlyperform a function of an electronic device while reinforcing rigidity byusing a structure of the housing itself and to have a good outerappearance, and an electronic device including the housing.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram 1400 of an electronic device 1401according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.14, the electronic device 1401 may entirely or partially constitute, forexample, the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1. The electronic device 1401includes at least one Application Processor (AP) 1410, a communicationmodule 1420, a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card 1424, amemory 1430, a sensor module 1440, an input unit 1450, a display 1460,an interface 1470, an audio module 1480, a camera module 1491, a powermanagement module 1495, a battery 1496, an indicator 1497, and a motor1498.

The AP 1410 controls a plurality of hardware or software constitutionalelements connected to the AP 1410 by driving an operating system or anapplication program, and processes a variety of data includingmultimedia data and performs an arithmetic operation. The AP 1410 may beimplemented, for example, with a System on Chip (SoC). The AP 1410 mayfurther include a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU).

The communication module 1420 (e.g., the communication interface 160)performs data transmission/reception in communications between otherelectronic devices (e.g., the electronic device 104 or the server 106)connected with the electronic device 1401 (e.g., the electronic device101) through a network. The communication module 1420 may include acellular module 1421, a Wi-Fi module 1423, a BT module 1425, a GPSmodule 1427, a NFC module 1428, and a Radio Frequency (RF) module 1429.

The cellular module 1421 provides a voice call, a video call, a textservice, an internet service, and the like through a communicationnetwork (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, WiBro, GSM, etc.). Inaddition, the cellular module 1421 identifies and authenticates theelectronic device within the communication network by using the SIM card1424. The cellular module 1421 can perform at least some functions thatcan be provided by the AP 1410. For example, the cellular module 1421may perform at least some of multimedia control functions.

In some embodiments, the cellular module 1421 may include aCommunication Processor (CP). Further, the cellular module 1421 may beimplemented, for example, with an SoC. Although constitutional elementssuch as the cellular module 1421 (e.g., the communication processor),the memory 1430, the power management module 1495, and the like areillustrated as separate constitutional elements with respect to the AP1410 in FIG. 14, the AP 1410 can also be implemented such that at leastone part (e.g., the cellular module 1421) of the aforementionedconstitutional elements is included.

In some embodiments, the AP 1410 or the cellular module 1421 (e.g., thecommunication processor) loads an instruction or data, which is receivedfrom each non-volatile memory connected thereto or at least one ofdifferent constitutional elements, to a volatile memory and processesthe instruction or data. In addition, the AP 1410 or the cellular module1421 can store data, which is received from at least one of differentconstitutional elements or generated by at least one of differentconstitutional elements, into the non-volatile memory.

Each of the WiFi module 1423, the BT module 1425, the GPS module 1427,and the NFC module 828 may include, for example, a processor forprocessing data transmitted/received through a corresponding module.Although the cellular module 1421, the WiFi module 1423, the BT module1425, the GPS module 1427, and the NFC module 828 are illustrated inFIG. 14 as separate blocks, according to an embodiment, at least some(e.g., two or more) of the cellular module 1421, the WiFi module 1423,the BT module 1425, the GPS module 1427, and the NFC module 1428 may beincluded in one Integrated Chip (IC) or IC package. For example, atleast some of processors corresponding to the cellular module 1421, theWiFi module 1423, the BT module 1425, the GPS module 1427, and the NFCmodule 828 (e.g., a communication processor corresponding to thecellular module 1421 and a WiFi processor corresponding to the WiFimodule 1423) may be implemented with an SoC.

The RF module 1429 serves to transmit/receive data, for example, totransmit/receive an RF signal. Although not shown, the RF module 1429may include, for example, a transceiver, a Power Amp Module (PAM), afrequency filter, a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and the like. Inaddition, the RF module 1429 may further include a component fortransmitting/receiving a radio wave on a free space in wirelesscommunication, for example, a conductor, a conducting wire, and thelike. Although it is illustrated in FIG. 14 that the cellular module1421, the WiFi module 1423, the BT module 1425, the GPS module 1427, andthe NFC module 1428 share one RF module 1429, according to anembodiment, at least one of the cellular module 1421, the WiFi module1423, the BT module 1425, the GPS module 1427, the NFC module 1428 cantransmit/receive an RF signal via a separate RF module.

The SIM card 1424 may be inserted to a slot formed at a specificlocation of the electronic device. The SIM card 1424 may include uniqueidentification information (e.g., an Integrated Circuit Card IDentifier(ICCID)) or subscriber information (e.g., an International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI)).

The memory 1430 (e.g., the memory 130) may include an internal memory1432 or an external memory 1434. The internal memory 1432 may include,for example, at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., a Dynamic RandomAccess Memory (RAM) (DRAM), a Static RAM (SRAM), a Synchronous DynamicRAM (SDRAM), etc.) or a non-volatile memory (e.g., a One TimeProgrammable Read Only Memory (ROM) (OTPROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM),an Erasable and Programmable ROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable andProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), a Mask ROM, a Flash ROM, a NAND flash memory,a NOR flash memory, etc.).

The internal memory 1432 may be a Solid State Drive (SSD). The externalmemory 1434 may further include a flash drive, and may further include,for example, Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Micro SecureDigital (Micro-SD), Mini Secure digital (Mini-SD), extreme Digital (xD),memory stick, and the like. The external memory 1434 may be operativelycoupled to the electronic device 1401 via various interfaces. Theelectronic device 1401 may further include a storage unit (or a storagemedium) such as a hard drive.

The sensor module 1440 measures a physical quantity or detects anoperation state of the electronic device 1401, and thus converts themeasured or detected information into an electric signal. The sensormodule 1440 may include, for example, at least one of a gesture sensor1440A, a gyro sensor 1440B, a pressure sensor 1440C, a magnetic sensor1440D, an acceleration sensor 1440E, a grip sensor 1440F, a proximitysensor 1440G, a color sensor 1440H (e.g., a Red, Green, Blue (RGB)sensor), a bio sensor 1440I, a temperature/humidity sensor 1440J, anillumination sensor 1440K, and an Ultra Violet (UV) sensor 1440M.Alternatively, the sensor module 1440 nay include, for example, anE-node sensor, an ElectroMyoGraphy (EMG) sensor, an ElectroEncephaloGram(EEG) sensor, an ElectroCardioGram (ECG) sensor, a fingerprint sensor,etc. The sensor module 1440 may further include a control circuit forcontrolling at least one or more sensors included therein.

The input module 1450 may include a touch panel 1452, a (digital) pensensor 1454, a key 1456, or an ultrasonic input unit 1458. The touchpanel 1452 recognizes a touch input, for example, by using at least oneof an electrostatic type, a pressure-sensitive type, and an ultrasonictype. The touch panel 1452 may further include a control circuit. In thecase of the electrostatic type, not only a physical contact but also aproximity recognition is also possible. The touch penal 1452 may furtherinclude a tactile layer. In this case, the touch panel 1452 provides theuser with a tactile reaction.

The (digital) pen sensor 1454 may be implemented, for example, by usingthe same or similar method of receiving a touch input of the user or byusing an additional sheet for recognition. The key 1456 may be, forexample, a physical button, an optical key, a keypad, or a touch key.The ultrasonic input unit 1458 is a device by which the electronicdevice 1401 detects a sound wave through a microphone (e.g., amicrophone 1488) by using a pen which generates an ultrasonic signal,and is a device capable of radio recognition. The electronic device 1401may use the communication module 1420 to receive a user input from anexternal device (e.g., a computer or a server) connected thereto.

The display 1460 (e.g., the display 150) may include a panel 1462, ahologram 1464, or a projector 1466. The panel 1462 may be, for example,a Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), an Active-Matrix Organic Light-EmittingDiode (AM-OLED), etc. The panel 1462 may be implemented, for example, ina flexible, transparent, or wearable manner. The panel 1462 may beconstructed as one module with the touch panel 1452. The hologram 1464uses an interference of light and show a stereoscopic image in the air.The projector 1466 displays an image by projecting a light beam onto ascreen. The screen may be located, for example, inside or outside theelectronic device 1401. The display 1460 may further include a controlcircuit for controlling the panel 1462, the hologram 1464, or theprojector 1466.

The interface 1470 may include, for example, a High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface (HDMI) 1472, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1474, anoptical communication interface 1476, or a D-subminiature (D-sub) 1478.The interface 1470 may be included, for example, in the communicationinterface 160 of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the interface 1470 may include,for example, Mobile High-definition Link (MHL), Secure Digital(SD)/Multi-Media Card (MMC) or Infrared Data Association (IrDA).

The audio module 1480 bilaterally converts a sound and electric signal.At least some constitutional elements of the audio module 14014 may beincluded in, for example, the input/output interface 140 of FIG. 1. Theaudio module 1480 may convert sound information which is input oroutput, for example, through a speaker 1482, a receiver 1484, anearphone 1486, the microphone 1488, and the like.

The camera module 1491 is a device for image and video capturing, andaccording to an embodiment, may include one or more image sensors (e.g.,a front sensor or a rear sensor), a lens, an Image Signal Processor(ISP), or a flash (e.g., Light Emitting Diode (LED) or xenon lamp).

The power management module 1495 manages power of the electronic device1401. Although not shown, the power management module 1495 may include,for example, a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), a chargerIntegrated Circuit (IC), or a battery gauge.

The PMIC may be placed, for example, inside an IC or SoC semiconductor.Charging may be wired charging or wireless charging. The charger IC maycharge a battery, and avoid an over-voltage or over-current flow from acharger. The charger IC may further include a charger IC for at leastone of the wired charging and the wireless charging. The wirelesscharging may be classified, for example, into a magnetic resonance type,a magnetic induction type, and an electromagnetic type. An additionalcircuit for the wireless charging, for example, a coil loop, a resonantcircuit, a rectifier, and the like, may be added.

The battery gauge may measure, for example, a residual quantity of thebattery 1496 and a voltage, current, and temperature during charging.The battery 1496 may store or generate electricity, and supply power tothe electronic device 1401 by using the stored or generated electricity.For example, the battery 1496 may include a rechargeable battery or asolar battery.

The indicator 1497 may indicate a specific state, for example, a bootingstate, a message state, a charging state, and the like, of theelectronic device 1401 or a part thereof (e.g., the AP 1410). The motor1498 may convert an electric signal into a mechanical vibration.Although not shown, the electronic device 1401 may include a processingunit (e.g., a GPU) for supporting mobile TV. The processing unit forsupporting mobile TV may process media data according to a protocol of,for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital VideoBroadcasting (DVB), media flow, and the like.

Each of the aforementioned constitutional elements of the electronicdevice according to various embodiments of the present invention canconsist of one or more components, and names thereof can vary dependingon a type of electronic device. The electronic device according tovarious embodiments of the present invention can include at least one ofthe aforementioned constitutional elements. Some of the constitutionalelements can be omitted, or additional other constitutional elements canbe further included. In addition, some of the constitutional elements ofthe electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentinvention can be combined and constructed as one entity, so as toequally perform functions of corresponding constitutional elementsbefore combination.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, at least someparts of a device (e.g., modules or functions thereof) or method (e.g.,operations) according to various embodiments of the present inventionmay be implemented with an instruction stored in a computer-readablestorage media for example. If the instruction is executed by one or moreprocessors (e.g., the processor 1410), the one or more processors mayperform a function corresponding to the instruction. Thecomputer-readable storage media may be, for example, the memory 1430. Atleast some parts of the programming module may be implemented (e.g.,executed), for example, by the processor 1410. At least some parts ofthe programming module may include modules, programs, routines, sets ofinstructions, processes, and the like, for performing one or morefunctions.

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium may be a hardwaredevice configured particularly to store and perform a programinstruction (e.g., program module), for example, a hard disk, a magneticmedium such as a floppy disc and a magnetic tape, an optical storagemedium such as a Compact Disc-ROM (CD-ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc(DVD), a magnetic-optic medium such as a floptical disc, a Read OnlyMemory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, and thelike. An example of the program instruction includes not only a machinelanguage created by a compiler but also a high-level language executableby a computer by using an interpreter or the like. The aforementionedhardware device may be configured to operate as one or more softwaremodules to perform the operation of the present invention, and the otherway around is also possible.

The module or programming module according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may further include at least one or moreconstitutional elements among the aforementioned constitutionalelements, or may omit some of them, or may further include additionalother constitutional elements. Operations performed by a module,programming module, or other constitutional elements according tovarious embodiments of the present invention may be executed in asequential, parallel, repetitive, or heuristic manner. In addition, someof the operations may be executed in a different order or may beomitted, or other operations may be added.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the present invention isdefined not by the detailed description of the present disclosure but bythe appended claims and their equivalents, and all differences withinthe scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a housingforming at least a rear side and a lateral side of the electronicdevice; and a display disposed to the housing to form at least a portionof a front side of the electronic device; wherein the lateral sideincludes a metal member portion and a non-metal member portion, which issmaller in an area than the metal member portion; wherein anon-transparent coating layer is formed on an outer surface of thelateral side and an outer surface of the rear side, and wherein aboundary area between the metal member portion and the non-metal memberportion is hidden underneath the non-transparent coating layer.
 2. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein at least a part of metal memberportion is exposed to the outside, where there is no non-transparentcoating layer, in at least one of a first boundary area between thelateral side and the front side, and a second boundary area between thelateral side and the rear side.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2,wherein at least one of the first boundary area and the second boundaryarea is formed in a curved shape.
 4. The electronic device of claim 2,wherein at least one of the first boundary area and the second boundaryarea forms at least one chamfer portion formed in a lengthwise directionof the housing.
 5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the atleast a part without the non-transparent coating layer includes aprocessing area formed entirely along at least one of the first boundaryarea and the second boundary area.
 6. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the metal member portion is segmented by the non-metal memberportion, wherein the segmented metal member portion forms an antennaradiator.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the non-metalmember portion is inserted in a gap portion formed in the metal memberportion.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the non-metalmember portion comprises a first non-metal member portion and a secondnon-metal member portion.
 9. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe non-transparent coating layer comprises a primer layer on the outersurface and a paint layer on the primer layer.
 10. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the housing forms at least a portion of the frontside extending from the first boundary area.
 11. The electronic deviceof claim 2, wherein at least one of the first boundary area and thesecond boundary area has an angle or curvature different from thelateral side.
 12. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein at least oneof the first boundary area and the second boundary area forms a curvedsurface in an outer direction or inner direction of the housing.
 13. Theelectronic device of claim 2, wherein the non-transparent coating layerwas previously formed on the at least a part of at least one of thefirst boundary area and the second boundary area, and then removed fromthe at least a part by a cutting process or a milling process.
 14. Theelectronic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the firstboundary area and the second boundary area comprises a fairly narrowwidth compared with the lateral side.
 15. The electronic device of claim1, wherein the rear, side includes a metal member portion and anon-metal member portion, which is smaller in an area than the metalmember portion.
 16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least apart of the boundary area between the metal member portion and thenon-metal member portion is exposed to the outside, by removing thenon-transparent coating layer, in at least one of a first boundary areabetween the lateral side and the front side, and a second boundary areabetween the lateral side and the rear side.